The holiday season is quickly
approaching and, all in all, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with
parties, out-of-town company, travel, festive decorations, and lots and lots of
delicious foods. But, clients often forget that their four-legged family
members are also experiencing the hustle and bustle and, perhaps secretly (or
not so secretly), imbibing food, drink and garland! So, “wonderful “ can
frequently turn into “woeful “ as the physical effects of changes in routine,
over-eating, new food, trashy behavior, boarding and stress have their way with
the pet’s gastrointestinal system. And GI upset can lead to lethargy, abdominal
pain, vomiting, diarrhea, gas and
sometimes conditions requiring hospitalization.
With GI upset being prevalent during the
holiday season, it seems prudent to look to support these pets against such
insults, as well as to help with rapid recovery should they fall victim. When a
pet is exposed to stressful circumstances the gut flora may become unbalanced,
allowing potentially pathogenic bacteria to overpopulate and produce clinical
symptoms. Bacterial overgrowth can generate diarrhea, but is also, frequently,
the resulting consequence of a pet having an acute or chronic diarrhea
condition.
Nutritionally, it is the perfect time to
think about the use of probiotics and prebiotics for their benefits in
re-establishing bacteria balance and promoting gastrointestinal health.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that
provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. However, not all
probiotics are created equal: each species or strain of probiotic bacteria has
a unique profile, which influences the health benefits seen in the pet. Careful
consideration should be given to the selection of a probiotic, based upon its
clinical effectiveness and the treatment goals.
Prebiotics, such as
fructooligosaccharide, are not bacteria, but fibers. Prebiotics resist
enzymatic digestion in the upper digestive tract and pass to the colon, where
they are broken down or fermented by bacteria.
Uniquely, these specialized fibers act as fuel, or fertilizer, for
select bacteria in the gut, stimulating their growth and/or activity and, thus,
providing beneficial health effects. In addition, as prebiotic fibers are
broken down by the bacteria for fuel they produce short chain fatty acids,
which support intestinal cell health.
Probiotics and prebiotics operate,
though through different methods, to increase the population of beneficial
bacteria, which in turn can competitively exclude or crowd out potentially
pathogenic bacteria through physical competition for space and nutrients.
Beneficial bacteria also modulate immune function. Probiotic bacteria can
utilize prebiotic fibers to increase their population and survival within the
intestinal tract. Used together, through diet or supplementation, probiotics
and prebiotcs may demonstrate a synergistic approach to regaining GI health.
With the holidays just around the
corner, it is a perfect time to forewarn clients of the associated pitfalls of
the season. Recommending use of probiotics or prebiotics (or both) can be
beneficial, whether done proactively or reactively, and may keep your client’s
pet from being the party pooper of the holidays.
